Photographic apparatus



March 16, 1943.

M. C URRAN PHOTOGRAPHI C APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l n BY ATTORNEYJ.

March 16, 1943.y M. CURRAN 2,314,033

PHoToGRAPmc APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,314,033 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Morven Curran, Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 28, 1940, Serial No. 337,573 3 Claims. (Cl. 95-11) This invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatus and particularly to photographic apparatus suitable for dental use.

Much diiliculty has been experienced in taking dental photographs because with the apparatus now in general use, it is almost impossible to obtain and maintain the proper focus, the proper amount and direction of light relative to the parts to be photographed.' and the proper positioning of the patient.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of portable photographic apparatus, having all the essential elements adjustably interconnected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of photographic apparatus wherein the illuminating lamps are carried by the carriage for universal adjustment.

' Other objects are simplicity and lightness of construction, ease and accuracy of operation, and

portability.

With these as well as other objects which will appear during the course of the specication in view, reference will now be had to the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of photographic apparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the photographic apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. l; and 1 Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit for -regulating the ilood lights.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate similar parts and the numeral l is a frame comprising a body member I2 mounted at its opposite 'ends in brackets I4 having depending legs I6 and feet I6 having suitable pads 20.

The elongated body member l2 is preferably tubular in form to provide strength and lightness; serves as a support for the operating parts; and is secured to the brackets I4 by means of set screws 22. When shipping, the brackets can be easily removed to make the package more compact. The outer end of the body member i2 is provided with a tightly fitted 'plug 24, having ya transverse hole 26 formed therethrough in alignment with like holes 26 and 36, formed through bracket I4 and member i2.

A chin rest 32 is mounted on a stem 34 which is adapted to slidably fit through holes 26, 26 and 30 to permit of any desired degree of vertical adjustment. Set screw 36 mounted in plug 24 is adapted to contact stem 34 and secure the chin rest 32 in 'any desired position.

A carriage bracket 36 is formed to slidably engage body member l2 for longitudinal adjustment therealong. Bracket 36 is taped and is provided with a clamping screw 40, by means of which the bracket may be rigidly secured in position. A spline 42 is rigidly secured in body member l2 and extends into groove 44 formed in bracket I6 to preclude Arotary movement of the body member, but to permit longitudinal movement therealong.

Bracket 36 supports a switch box 46, which carries a switch 46. Each of the outer ends of box 46 has an outwardly extending conduit 66 terminating in a socket 62, in which is universally mounted a ball 64, which in turn is rigidly secured to a light receiving xture 56 having a switch A reilector 66 is secured for rotation to the light xture 56 and is adapted to direct the light from lamp 62 mounted in the fixture, as shown in Fig. 2. This lighting xture being mounted on the ball and socket joint, permits of a universal movement so that the lights may be properly directed to illuminate the mouth cavities for photographing.

The lighting fixtures at the opposite end of conduit 60 projecting from the opposite side of box 46 are preferably like those just described and with a lamp 62' of like power as lamp 62.

The double pole switch 46 controls the lamps through the following circuit, to produce the desired results. Feed 64 and 66 are supplied with the proper electrical current, for example, A. C. current at volts.

Wire 66 connects wire 66 with contact point 16 and wire 12 joins live wire 64 with contact point 14. Wire 16 connects one terminal of lamp 62 to wire 68, and the other terminal of the lamp is connected by wire 16 to the contact point 80.

The other lamp, designated as 62' is connected by wire 82 to wire 12 and by wire 64 to terminal 66.

Switch 46 is' pivoted at 66 and has two arms 60 and 62, and when in the position shown in Fig. 4, arm 66 interconnects contacts 10 and 86, while arm 62 joins together contact points 14 and When the switch is in the position shown in Fig. 4, lamps 62 and 62' are connected in multiple with the current supply wires 64 and 66 and will emit their maximum candle power. When it is desired to lessen the resultant light of the two lamps, the switchfis rotated so that arm 62y connects contact 86 with contact Sil, which connects with wire lil through wire Sl and arm becomes inactive, thereby connecting the lamps G2 and 62' in series to reduce the lighting eilect. By properly positioning the switch, the lamps may be entirely out ci! from the electrical sup- P152.

In the use of the apparatus, the lamps are rst positioned in series to properly position the patient A, and when it is desired to make the exposure, the switch is turned to connect the lights in multiple to produce the necessary high candle power.

While the above description of the lighting apparatus is shown only in one of its forms, it is very apparent that other forms might be substituted therefor 'without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y

A bracket 98 secured by thumb screws |00 to box 46 carries a plate |02 having an aperture |04 into which is removably mounted a suitable lens or objective in axial alignment with body member I2. This objective may be varied for diilerent types oi work.

A view iinder l of any suitable type, such as a ground glass is mounted in a frame HI8, which is hinged at il! to plate Ill so that it can be moved to and from a position over aperture I 0l during the positioning of the object.

'Ihe camera propel;` Il2'is hinged at H4, as shown in Fig. 1, to plate Il! so as to be movable to and from a position in axial alignment with the lens. 'Ihe camera and lens shown are now in general use and might be replaced without departing from the invention.

In the operation of this device, the operator positions the patients chin in the chin rest, which is adjusted for the proper vertical height and side or front position. The proper focus is determined by the view nder in the usual manner, and then the screw 4l is set to prevent accidental movement of the parts. The view nder is then raised in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and the camera is raised to the operative position and the exposure made. The lights may need to be adjusted differently for various kinds of pictures to be taken.

It is apparent that this photographic apparatus is very simple in construction, can be easily transferred from one place to another, can be used on any ordinary stand or table, and has all the operating parts interconnected and carried by a common frame, thus insuring proper asraoss p `relative relation of the parts at all times. For

very fine work it is important that the apparatus be mounted so that no vibration from outside sources shall be transmitted to the apparatus.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photographic apparatus a frame having a horizontally disposed elongated body member supported at its opposite ends on depending legs; a chin rest mounted for horizontal rotary and vertical sliding adjustment at the outer end portion of said frame; a carriage mounted for longitudinal horizontal movement on said elongated body member; a lens carried by said carriage and disposed in direct axial alignment with a point adjacent and above said chin rest; and universally adjustable lamps carried by said carriage at the rear of said lens to direct light toward saidvrest,

2. In a photographic apparatus of the character described a frame having a longitudinally disposed body member; a cupped chin rest mounted on a vertically disposed stem for independent vertical and rotary adjustment in said frame adjacent one end of said body member; a carriage mounted for horizontal longitudinal movement along said body member; means to preclude rotary movement of the carriage on said body member; a lens carried by said body member in axial parallel alignment therewith and in spaced relation thereabove; means for securing said carriage relative to said body member; and universally adjustably mounted lamps carried by said frame whereby direct light rays from said lamps are directed toward said chin rest and away from said lens.

3. In a device of the character described a frame comprising an elongated body member having depending leg supports at its opposite ends; a chin rest mounted for free vertical and rotary adjustment in one end portion of the said frame; a camera supporting carriage mounted for sliding movement on said elongated body member, means to preclude all rotary movement of said carriage relative to said body member; and universal adjustably mounted lamps carried by said camera supporting carriage and so positioned that the direct light rays therefrom are directed toward said chin rest and away from said camera supporting carriage.

MORVEN CURRAN. 

